Retrieval

When parting, a trail of saliva hung from their eager lips until it broke when the distance became too much to allow its existence, the image was scandalous –borderline distasteful, but Shikamaru couldn't help to be turned on still. Temari looked beautiful with lips swollen and cheeks blushed, he reached out to her and wiped the remains of him from the corner of her mouth. She smirked and he replied with the same gesture, his hand dropping.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" She licked her lips as if tasting him still, he swallowed and scratched his cheek.

"I heard you were promoted to Jönin." He replied shrugging and started to walk to the mouth of the alley, slightly turning to invite her to join. Sunlight was particularly harsh this time of day, and he had to squint his eyes when stepping out of the embrace of the shadows.

At first, she didn't follow, he re-emerged from the alley and had to blink more than once to greet the vision in front of him, but a couple of people, the street was desert enough for them not to be noticed. He waited there, the sun harshly caressing his skin until her knuckles brushed his. "Aren't you being promoted?" She lightly pushed him with her elbow, "shouldn't we celebrate that?"

Shikamaru couldn't help it, he chuckled, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes, "I'll let you know when I'm indeed promoted." Unconsciously, he bit the inside of his lower lip, moving to start their journey to the village's gates.

Temari wasn't here to stay, she simply arrived to give word of the new Kazekage's identity. It was surprising for Shikamaru to learn about Gaara's new position, and while he knew everyone in Sunagakure wished to get rid of Suna's temporary council that was until then ruling and dictating as to finally return to some sense of normalcy, Konoha's government wasn't as excited.

After the invasion, Suna and Konoha signed a new treaty, but because of Sunagakure's treason –and despite or maybe because of Orochimaru's influence, they allowed Konoha to choose the new council that would rule over the Wind Hidden Village until a new Kazekage was named. That temporary assembly was mostly composed of Suna citizens that were particularly kin to favor Konoha in their negotiations as they were to delay the election of a new ruler, but it seemed that after almost three years, and with Gaara's undeniable growth, the population have had enough and forced the Council to disintegrate.

Still, Shikamaru didn't know how to exactly feel about Temari's brother, his power was undeniable, but the remembrance of the young boy almost killing him still lingered. It was still difficult for him to separate both entities, the Gaara from then and the Kazekage of now.

Of course, none of this was told to the woman beside him, it was enough for her to get thrown nasty looks every time she passed the threshold, he refused to add more reasons to her discomfort. When she casually brushed his skin again, he let out a sigh, and guilt climbed up his arms through goosebumps. He liked Temari, he enjoyed every moment with her –but he couldn't, still, be completely devoted –he will be, of course, when enough time had passed and enough distance with his childish emotions had been created; but the lack of confession on his part to the woman he still desired after years, and therefore, the lack of rejection, still attached him to that juvenile crush.

Down the street, as if fate wanted to tease him just a bit further, a pair of turquoise eyes glared at him while approaching, he swallowed because the similarities were enough for the memory of her to return, but the factions accompanying the gaze were rougher, manlier. Inoichi's steps were almost menacing, and Shikamaru felt threatened despite knowing no harm will be directed his way. He glanced at Temari from the corner of his eyes and saw that she, too, had changed her posture. They both paused in their walk and tensed their muscles, yet Inoichi's figure walked past them both. His glare, it seemed, was guided elsewhere.

Shikamaru couldn't help it, "Inoichi-san?" He called, his body twisting to watch the man's back, he stopped, his shoulder blades' form was visible under the light clothing he wore.

Inoichi didn't turn, he acknowledged Shikamaru with a slight movement of his head, "Ino hasn't returned." Was the whole sentence, voice deep and hard, before he resumed his journey. Shikamaru's remaining air went with him, and dread shook his bones, making him shiver.

"Shikamaru?" Temari's voice was next to him yet away, he glanced at her –and whatever she saw, it made her eyes widen, her mouth tightening in a thin line. "Go with him." She whispered, encouraged, and squeezed his arm to bring him back to reality, he felt his face soften, and at that moment, he was sure, he loved her; yet when he nodded the feeling dissipated, and only concern climbed through his muscles.

Reaching Inoichi was surprisingly easy, just a short sprint and he was walking by his side –he looked at him and gulped, remembered what his father confessed, and felt bile rising. He swallowed his distaste and pursed his lips, "what happened to Ino?" He asked, moving faster –the fact that Inoichi, while visibly upset, didn't hurry, made his insides twist.

The mighty man barely glanced at him, his brows furrowing the only signal of his acknowledgment. Shikamaru wished he could punch him, instead, he forced himself to pinch his thighs harshly, his pocket concealing the self-harm inflicted.

Inside him, fear bubbled in the pit of his stomach, but he restrained his necessity to speak again, contenting himself to follow the Yamanaka leader –he supposed, he thought while kicking a little stone out of his way, that not being pushed away was enough.

When entering the tower, the shinobi around made a double-take when seeing them pass –Shikamaru couldn't fault them, while he was used to moving around the corridors of the place, Inoichi was a weird sight to have inside these walls –unlike his boss.

The Hokage's office was located on the last floor of the tower and it seemed that Inoichi's concern overtook his manners, his steps became quicker and Shikamaru was sure, his face tightened, whoever was around just scattered away when he moved towards them. Shikamaru tried to follow, but Inoichi's strides were so long he was only able to stay a few steps behind.

"Inoichi-sama," Shizune greeted them –stopped them, Inoichi barely paused in his walk, and was only held from opening the door unannounced by the harsh look of the woman standing at the petit desk. "Do you have an appointment?" He didn't, she knew as he did as well –she was simply trying to delay their arrival; for what, it was hard to say. Nothing could be heard from inside the Hokage's office.

Inoichi's expression hardened, Shizune swallowed but remained standing, "Tsunade-sama is in the middle of a meeting and I don't think –it's best if you…"

"Stop me, then," Inoichi told her and Shikamaru would have jumped out of his skin hadn't been for the concern clearly hanging of the jönin's shoulders, he opened the door, not minding Shizune's clear surprise (Shikamaru glanced at her apologetically out of pity), and entered the office, leaving the door open for Shikamaru to follow.

Good, at least he wasn't been left out.

The silence that welcomed him was deafening –if he cared less, if only the concern didn't have its clutch in his heart so fiercely, he would have backed out the moment he saw Inoichi's mighty figure trembling.

By her desk, seated in front of them with pale skin and pursed lips was Tsunade, rendered speechless by the interruption –until then, nothing seemed specifically out of place, yet she wasn't found in solitude –Shizune had told them she was in a meeting, but Shikamaru knew not the identity of the person sitting in front of her, cane in hand and glancing at Inoichi from above his shoulder.

"Inoichi," Tsunade's voice was barely a whisper, until she blinked out of her stupor, wrinkling her nose, "how dare you?" She exclaimed, glancing at Shikamaru and narrowing her eyes. He took a step back, trying to look smaller.

However, there was no response, Inoichi was looking at the man whose single eye was solely focused on them, his tremors weren't subduing, "there's no harm done," the man provided, returning his attention to the mighty leader of the village. "I was already aware of his upcoming visit," he said and Tsunade knitted her eyebrows together.

"Where you?" She asked, pretty nails tapping her desk impatiently.

The old man replied nothing verbally, he simply glanced at Inoichi again and gave him a small smile –a dreadful twist of his mouth, Shikamaru was sure Inoichi understood the meaning behind it, but for him, it was impossible to know what went unspoken. Tsunade visibly bristled, "whatever is you are playing," she said, watching both men, "you will not dare to do so in my presence, I do not appreciate secrets."

The old man hummed, tapping his mouth with his middle finger and resting his back on the chair, once again, looking at Tsunade. "Pity. To think that you despise the very foundations of this city…"

"Danzo…" Tsunade's tone was threatening, Shikamaru was sure he had heard the man's name elsewhere.

"Shouldn't you ask the reason for such unworthy behavior?" The man –Danzo, cocked his head to the side, Shikamaru saw his fingers play with the cane, he swallowed and was tempted to leave, the only thing keeping him grounded was the feeling at the pit of his stomach.

Tsunade dedicated him a few more nasty blinks before moving her green eyes to the jönin visibly trying to collect himself, she didn't bother with rephrasing, and simply waited, Inoichi was clearly uncomfortable.

"You won't be expecting me to leave, aren't you?" Danzo breathed mockingly, looking at him once more.

Inoichi spoke, "my daughter." He said, Tsunade's jaw relaxed, "she…" And suddenly, Inoichi's voice broke and he stopped talking, the implications of his sentence were left hanging in the air, and Tsunade, while leader, had enough pity to soften her tone.

"Ino?" She asked, moving to a pile of papers, "when was she scheduled to return? I can swear she was to come back in a few days…"

"The due date was today," Inoichi breathed. "It's almost dawn."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "close the door child," she admonished, and Shikamaru jumped to follow her command, he paused and thought whether or not to leave, but he settled his jaw and stood in the exact same tile as before, silently giving Inoichi his support. His actions didn't go unnoticed, Tsunade gave her a harsh look, and Danzo tsiked, Inoichi was the only one not moving a muscle.

"There's still time for her to arrive," Tsunade tried to be the voice of reason, but everyone knew that few shinobi returned past sun settings, only stupid ones or particularly skilled ones dared to travel at night –Ino was neither.

"Tsunade-sama," he tried to interject.

"And why are you here?" She pointed at him, "are you two trying to pressure me into a specific decision?"

Cold, thick rage pulsed through his arms, Shikamaru was barely able to control the sudden spike of adrenaline that wanted to jump out of his skin, he narrowed his eyes at the woman looking at him suspiciously, "no. Tsunade-sama." He gritted his teeth, "I'm accompanying Inoichi because I'm concerned for my teammate."

"Watch the tone," Tsunade warned. Then rested her hands on the desk and stood, "yet, should I take this as if the Nara clan would follow the Yamanaka's conduction?"

Shikamaru gulped, it wasn't his decision to make –he looked at Inoichi and noticed him glancing at him from above his shoulders, his posture too harsh to be casual, his eyebrows too low to be nothing but sadness. He thought about his father, what would he prioritize, he knew he loved Inoichi –but would he put his clan loyalty on the line amidst the possibility of Ino's absence? No. Shikaku wouldn't.

"I wouldn't put past it." He replied, and ignored the feeling of eternal disappointment he knew Shikaku would feel at the back of his throat.

Danzo looked at them both, his eyes narrowing and scratching his chin. But said nothing.

"Tsunade-sama," Inoichi spoke before Tsunade could, and in a good moment too, because she looked ready to murder, "we are aware of our places, I came here not as a leader –but as a father, I beg you." His shoulder slumped forward, and Shikamaru saw Tsunade's expression softening.

"Inoichi, you as a leader must understand, that I cannot take what here was told lightly."

"Punish me, then," he replied, Shikamaru wanted to protest, "he's a child concerned for a friend –he speaks hastily because that's his nature."

"We are all adults here," Danzo provided.

"Yes," Inoichi did not skip a beat to reply, still looking at Tsunade. "But you know where his heart lies, what he's done for this realm –he just learned about Ino, he hasn't had time to process it and take control of his impulses; while I, a Jönin, have had enough hours to think through this, and yet still followed my emotions rather than my logic."

"She's your daughter," Tsunade argued.

"And she's his friend." Inoichi breathed, "a beloved one." Whatever was implied with those words it struck the woman like lighting, she pursed her lips and her green eyes shone under the sunset, shadows stretched and clung to her face, she slumped in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Fine." She swallowed, took a deep breath, and raised her head to look at them. "You can form three squads at most –I won't have all my skilled shinobi running after a single kunoichi, whatever her position is. If she hasn't returned by midnight, you are free to go." She glanced at the desk, and then to Inoichi again, "I'll give you three weeks of permission, consider it a gift, if by that time you haven't found her, she'll be declared officially dead."

Again, it was as if the air had been taken out of his lungs, Shikamaru, quite literally, had to gasp in order to breathe, Danzo looked at him with a slight twist of his mouth, like disgusted, but he couldn't care less. Another sound reached his ears it seemed, for the man glanced at the ceiling with his nose wrinkled. Shikamaru didn't care enough to look alongside him.

Apparently, the pause was shared, for Tsunade was looking at them both with enough pity to hurt his ego, "I'm sorry, Inoichi. But that's all I can do." Liar, Shikamaru thought, registering she hadn't addressed him.

Inoichi was solely able to nod, a silent gesture to convey his gratitude, he turned and turquoise eyes met him, Shikamaru could have cried for how destroyed he looked.

"Dare I say," Danzo spoke again, his gaze dropping from the ceiling to the back of the Yamanaka's head, "these few years, a considerable amount of Yamanaka members have disappeared –now, your daughter amongst them." He cocked his head to the side, "makes you wonder…" he allowed the silence to stretch, Inoichi's sadness was replaced by visible anger.

"Spill it out," Inoichi said, not turning, his eyes burning a hole through the wood of the door. Shikamaru took a step back not to get caught in the crossfire.

"Oh, nothing," Danzo dismissed, but everyone knew he had meant every word, "let's hope you find your daughter, if not her to rule after you –who could possibly be worthy enough to take your place?"

"Danzo," Tsunade warned, and in the short moment it took Shikamaru to look at her, the door of her office swung open, and Inoichi disappeared through it.

The man looked at him now, Shikamaru was trapped on that disgusting glare, "who could be behind this? Who could possibly, benefit from this?" He smirked. It was so subtle, Shikamaru wasn't able to suppress the shiver that went up to his spine –and he could swear, by his tone of voice and that smile, that the man knew something that he wasn't telling, "oh –who knows, this type of situations are so common…" he shrugged, never taking his eyes off him.

Shikamaru left feeling suddenly watched.